Women's Studies

200 | 300 | 400 | Graduate Courses

www.public.iastate.edu/~wsprogram/homepage.html

(Interdepartmental Program)

Program Director: J. Bystydzienski

Core Faculty: Diane Price-Herndl (English), Nikki Bado-Fralick (Religious Studies)

Affiliated Faculty: Cynthia Anderson (Sociology), Robert Baum (Religious Studies), Sharon Bird (Sociology), Amy Bix (History), Leslie Bloom (Curriculum & Instruction), Dawn Bratsch-Prince (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Mary Jane Brotherson (HD FS), Michael Bugeja (Journalism and Communication), Dianne Bystrom (Political Science), Barbara Caldwell (Art & Design), Susan Carlson (English), Alicia Cast (Sociology), Joanna Courteau (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Susan Cross (Psychology), Brenda Daly (English), Jane Davis (English), Betty Dobratz (Sociology), Eugenia Farrar (Zoology & Genetics), Carla Fehr (Religious Studies), Cornelia Flora (Sociology), Kristin Gerhard (Library), Michael Golec (Art & Design), Margaret Graham (English), Wendy Harrod (Sociology), Carolyn Heising (IMSE, Engineering), Madeline Henry (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Carl Herndl (English), Kathleen Hickok (English), Clare Hinrichs (Sociology), Gloria Jones-Johnson (Sociology), Christiana Langenberg (English), Sidner Larson (American Indian Studies), Maggie LaWare (Speech Communication), Kathy Leonard (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Ingrid Lilligren (Art & Design), Barbara Mack (Journalism and Mass Communication), Ardith Maney (Political Science), Rita Marinko (Library), Olga Mesropova (Foreign Languages & Literatures), Laura Mielke (English), Julie Minkler-Tsivakou (English), Megan Murphy (HD FS), Constance Post (English), Clare Robinson (Architecture), Lulu Rodrigues (Journalism/Communication), Whitney Sandford (Religious Studies), Mary Sawyer (Religious Studies), Barbara Schwarte (English), David Schweingruber (Sociology), Amy Slagell (English), Sheryl St. Germain (English), Gary Tartakov (Art & Design), Betty Wells (Sociology), Laura Winkiel (English), Mary Winter (Human Development and Family Studies), Daniell Wirth (Philosophy), Tanya Zanish-Belcher (Library)

Undergraduate Study

Women's Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a cross-disciplinary program in which students may elect a minor or a major. Women's Studies provides an opportunity for students to examine women's roles, contributions, and status in social and cultural context and to investigate a variety of disciplines from feminist perspectives. Women's Studies creates an understanding that interrelated factors -e.g., race, ethnicity, class, age, disability, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation - inform knowledge of women's history, culture, and social roles. Women's Studies seeks to improve critical thinking and to provide students with the intellectual means to question prevailing assumptions. It encourages students to explore the contexts and ideological origins of knowledge and to examine the relationship between knowledge and power in society. It promotes social responsibility by examining the connections between personal experience and political activity, and validates student contributions and voices. Women's Studies graduates are skilled in critical thinking, research methods, and effective communication. Because they have developed a thorough understanding of gender, race, and class, they can understand and work effectively with employers, colleagues, and clients to analyze and address complex social problems. Women's Studies graduates acquire strong backgrounds for careers in such areas as counseling, education, human resources, public policy, politics, business, or law. The program includes at various times core courses in Women's Studies and cross-listed courses in anthropology, art history, classical studies, economics, English, foreign languages and literatures, history, health and human performance, political science, psychology, religion, sociology, speech communication, and zoology.

An undergraduate major requires 33 credits of core, cross-listed, and independent study courses. (Core Courses are those courses that originate in Women's Studies.) Women's Studies majors must satisfy the following requirements:

1. 18 credits selected from women's studies core courses (W S).

A. Required core courses: W S 201, 301, and 401 or 402. Students must also choose between a thesis, W S 499 (3 cr.) or an internship, W S 491 (3 cr.)

B. The remaining 6 credits should be chosen from the Women's Studies core courses ( W S 450 and 301 may be taken more than once.)

C. No more than 6 credits of W S 490 may be counted toward the W S major.

2. 15 credits selected from W S cross-listed courses or W S core courses.

Women's Studies majors must also declare either a minor or a second major in a different program or department.

English proficiency requirement: The Women's Studies major requires an average grade of C- or better in English 104 and 105 (or 105H) and W S 301.

Undergraduate students may minor in Women's Studies by taking 15 semester hours of Women's Studies classes, including W S 201, 301 and one 400 level core Women's Studies course, plus 6 additional credits of core or cross-listed courses.

Because course listings vary from year to year, any student interested in a minor or major in Women's Studies should contact the chair of the program committee for advising. (See Index, Cross- Disciplinary Programs.)

The following Women's Studies courses currently meet the ISU U.S. Diversity requirement: 201, 203, 321, 323, 325, 327, 328, 336, 338, 340, 342, 345, 346, 350, 380, 383, 385, 386, 394, 422, 486, 594.

The following Women's Studies courses currently meet the ISU International Perspective requirement: 301, 344, 370, 374, 385, 435, 444, 535, 544.

The following women's studies courses are applicable to the human relations requirement for teachers: 201, 327, 340, 345, 346, 370, 385, 386. (See Index, Teacher Education Program.)

Graduate Study

The graduate minor in Women's Studies is designed to provide students with knowledge of theories and methods within a variety of approaches in feminist scholarship. The program seeks to integrate and synthesize knowledge from many disciplines and to offer students opportunties for systematic study of gender and women's experiences and perspectives in all knowledge fields. Students will be prepared to take leadership roles in supporting gender equity and diversity in their careers in education, social service work, business, law, public policy, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and research.

The graduate minor requires 12 credit hours for students enrolled in a master's or a doctoral degree program. Students are required to take either W S 510 or W S 620; taking both is strongly recommended. Students will also take two or three electives selected from the list of core and cross- listed Women's Studies courses approved for graduate study. At least one member of the Women's Studies faculty will serve on the program of study for doctoral students. A list of eligible faculty members may be obtained from the Director of the Women's Studies program.

Courses open for nonmajor graduate credit: 301, 321, 323, 336, 340, 342, 345, 350, 394, 401, 402, 422, and 450.

Courses primarily for undergraduate students

W S 201. Introduction to Women's Studies. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. Introduction to the interdisciplinary field of Women's Studies. Contemporary status of women in the U.S. and worldwide from social, economic, historical, political, philosophical and literary perspectives. Analysis of intersection of gender, race, class, and sexuality. Topics include work, health, sexuality, and violence. Background for the other courses in the program.

W S 203. Lesbian Cultures and Communities. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. An exploration of contemporary and historical lesbian cultures and communities in the United States, examining their roots, politics, populations, and conflicts from multiple perspectives.

W S 258. Human Reproduction. (Same as Biol 258.) See Biology.

W S 301. International Perspectives on Women and Gender. (3-0) Cr. 3. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. F. Prereq: 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 level or above. Study of women in a range of cultures, depending on faculty expertise. Special emphasis on women in development seen in postcolonial context. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 304. Creative Writing - Fiction. (Same as Engl 304.) See English. Acceptable only when offered as a course on women's writing.

W S 307. Women in Science and Engineering. (Same as Biol 307.) See Biology.

W S 320. Ecofeminism. (Same as Env S 320.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Prereq: 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 level or above. Women's relationships with the earth, non- human nature, and other humans. The course explores the connections between the mastery of women and the mastery of nature; origins of ecofeminism and its relation to the science of ecology and to other branches of feminist philosophies. Critique of modern science, technology, political systems as well as solutions will be included.

W S 321. Economics of Discrimination. (Same as Econ 321.) See Economics. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 323. Gender and Communication. (Same as Sp Cm 323.) See Speech Communication. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 327. Sex and Gender in Society. (Same as Soc 327.) See Sociology.

W S 328. Sociology of Masculinities and Manhood. (Same as Soc 328.) See Sociology.

W S 336. Women and Religion. (Same as Relig 336.) See Religious Studies. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 338. Feminist Philosophy. (Same as Phil 338.) See Philosophy. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 340. Survey of Women's Literature. (Same as Engl 340.) See English. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 342. American Indian Women Writers. (Same as Am In 342.) See American Indian Studies. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 345. Women and Literature: Selected Topics. (Same as Engl 345.) See English. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 346. Psychology of Women. (Same as Psych 346.) See Psychology.

W S 350. African American Women. (Same as Af Am 350.) (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 201 or Af Am 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies or African American Studies at the 300 level or above. Economic, social, political and cultural roles of African American women in the U.S. Includes literary, philosophical, and artistic expressions. Myths and realities explored. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 370F. French Studies in English. (Same as Frnch 370.) See Foreign Languages and Literatures. Applicable only when offered as a course on women or feminism in French literature.

W S 370G. German Studies in English. (Same as Ger 370.) See Foreign Languages and Literatures. Applicable only when offered as a course on women or feminism in German literature.

W S 370R. Russian Studies in English. (Same as Rus 370.) See Foreign Languages and Literatures. Applicable only when offered as a course on women or feminism in Russian literature.

W S 370S. Hispanic Topics in English Translation. (Same as Span 370.) See English. Applicable only when offered as a course on women or feminism in Hispanic Literature or culture.

W S 374. Women in the Ancient Mediterranean World. (Same as Cl St 374.) See Classical Studies.

W S 380. History of Women in Science, Technology, and Medicine. (Same as Hist 380.) See History.

W S 385. Women in Politics. (Same as Pol S 385.) See Political Science.

W S 386. History of Women in America. (Same as Hist 386.) See History.

W S 394. Women in Art. (Dual-listed with 594, Same as Art H 394.) See Art History. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 401. Feminist Theories. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 level or above. Current theories of feminism, the feminine and sexual difference. Topics in race, class, sexuality, and ethnicity as they are addressed in diverse feminisms. May include readings in lesbian, Black, postcolonial, psychoanalytic and postmodern thought. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 402. Feminist Research in Action. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 201 and 301. Feminist research methods and scholarship. Class collaborates on a community research and action project to improve women's lives. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 422. Women, Men, and the English Language. (Same as Engl 422.) See English. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 435. Women and Development. (Dual-listed with 535.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2007. Prereq: 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 level or above. Cross-cultural study of development utilizing both case studies and theoretical works. Explores the nature of women's roles in developing countries and the ways women and their needs have been excluded/included in development approaches, policies, and projects. Includes discussion of actual development projects as well as women's organizing.

W S 444. Sex and Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective. (Dual-listed with 544, same as Anthr 444.) See Anthropology.

W S 450. Topics in Women's Studies. (3-0) Cr. 3 each time taken, maximum of 6. S. Prereq: 201 or 3 credits in Women's Studies at the 300 level or above. Special and/or experimental topics in a specific discipline, e.g., women and education, women and religion, women and the law, women and science. Nonmajor graduate credit.

W S 460. Seminar in Women's and/or Multicultural Literature. (Same as Engl 460.) See English. Applicable only when offered as a course in women's literature.

W S 490. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken, maximum of 6. Prereq: Any two courses in Women's Studies, permission of instructor, consultation with the Women's Studies Program Director. Independent study on a topic in Women's Studies.

W S 491. Senior Internship. (3-0) Cr. 3. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. F.S.SS. Prereq: Senior classification. Internship designed to provide an application of Women's Studies principles and methods in a workplace. To be arranged with an internal or external employer and conducted under the supervision of a member of the Women's Studies faculty.

W S 499. Senior Thesis. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. Prereq: Senior classification. Senior thesis to be independently researched and written under the supervision of a member of the Women's Studies faculty.

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduate students

W S 510. Contemporary Feminist Theories. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2006. Advanced study of current theoretical developments in Women's Studies in the U.S. and around the world. Examination of the epistemological bases of feminist scholarship.

W S 528. Sociology of Gender. (Same as Soc 528.) See Sociology.

W S 535. Women and Development. (Dual-listed with 435.) (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2007. Cross- cultural study of development utilizing both case studies and theoretical works. Explores the nature of women's roles in developing countries and the ways women and their needs have been excluded/included in development approaches, policies, and projects. Includes discussion of actual development projects as well as women's organizing.

W S 544. Sex and Gender in Cross-cultural Perspective. (Dual-listed with 444, same as Anthr 544.) See Anthropology.

W S 545. Women's Literature. (Same as Engl 545.) See English.

W S 586. Proseminar in Women's History and Feminist Theory. (Same as Hist 586.) See History.

W S 587. Diversity Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy. (Same as HD FS 587.) See Human Development and Family Studies.

W S 590. Special Topics. Cr. var. Prereq: Permission of Women's Studies Program Director. Independent study on a topic in Women's Studies.

W S 594. Women in Art. (Dual-listed with 394, Same as Art H 594.) See Art History.

Courses for Graduate students

W S 620. Advanced Seminar in Feminist Research Methods. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2005. Focus on feminist interdisciplinary research methods. Analysis of contemporary issues facing feminist scholars. Students conduct original research in their disciplinary areas.